The Human

Eye
The Human Eye
Refractive index of lens
different for each
wavelength (colour)

Cool colours (blues)

appear closer; warm
colours (reds) further
away

Agree?
Most people see the red,
Closer than the blue.
Others see the opposite.
How about you?
The Human Eye

Your eyes are about to get a workout. Have

you stretched your eye muscles yet?
No? Then do that now!
Are you seeing spots?
Look at the cross for 10 seconds. What
do you see?
Are these lines
bent.?
or straight?
What shapes do you see?
Reading What is wrong with
with this sentence?

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde

Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the
ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is
taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae.
The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll
raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the
huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef,
but the wrod as a wlohe.
Do you see the rabbit or the
duck?
Read This Out Loud.
Are You Sure? Read again.
The Human Eye
Structure & Function

IRIS
coloured part of eye
controls light entering

PUPIL
black hole in iris
where light enters
Structure & Function
SCLERA
whites of the eye
supports eyeball
provides attachment
for muscles

LENS
converging lens
allows us to see
objects near and far
Structure & Function
CORNEA
transparent bulge over
pupil
focuses light (refracts)
onto retina

RETINA
internal membrane
contain light-receptive
cells (rods & cones)
converts light to electrical
signal
Blind Spot
On retina where optic
nerve leads back into
the brain
No rod or cone cells
Other eye
compensates for this
area
Try this test to prove
you have a blind spot
Close left eye and approach
screen while staring at the
letterswatch the dot!
Structure & Function

OPTIC NERVE
Transmits electrical

impulses from retina to

the brain
Creates blind spot

Brain takes inverted

image and flips it so we

can see
 Normal Eye Focus

Blind spot
Focusing Problems

HYPEROPIA
Far-sightedness

Problem seeing close

objects
Distance between lens

and retina too small

Light focused behind

retina
Corrected with

converging lenses
Far-Sighted (Hyperopia)
Focusing Problems

PRESBYOPIA
Form of far-sightedness

Harder for people to

read as they age

Lens loses elasticity

Corrected by glasses

with converging lenses

Focusing Problems

MYOPIA
Near-sightedness

Problem seeing objects

far away
Distance between lens

and retina too large

Light focused in front of

retina
Correct with diverging

lenses
Near-Sighted (Myopia)
Diseases of the Eye

GLAUCOMA
Group of diseases

Affects optic nerve -

pressure
Loss of ganglion cells

Gradual loss of sight

and eventual blindness

Check eyes regularly

Can be treated
Diseases of the Eye
CATARACTS
Clouding forms in lens

due to denaturing of
lens protein
Obstructs passage of

light
Caused by age, chronic

exposure to UV, or due

to trauma
Removed by surgery